Rosa plant named ‘RANMD’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Rosa  hybrid named ‘RANMD’ is disclosed, characterized by large, double, fragrant sulfur yellow flowers. Plants are vigorous and flowering continuously throughout the flowering season. Plant form is upright and bushy. The new cultivar is a  Rosa  typically suited for ornamental container and landscape use as well as cut flower production.

Latin name of the genus and species: Rosa hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘RANMD’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Rosa hybrid, which has been named ‘RANMD’. The novel variety described herein details a new and distinct variety of Rose plant of the Hybrid Tea class. The inventive variety was recognized to have merit for use as an ornamental shrub in landscape and container horticulture with the plant being grown in a range of container sizes suited to supply the retail nursery market and the commercial landscape market. The potential of the inventive variety as a cut flower for the floral industry was also recognized. Vase life trials were conducted to establish this suitability and it was found a vase life of 4 to 7 days may be expected, depending on treatment and environmental conditions.

The cultivar ‘RANMD’ was discovered as a naturally occurring branch mutation in 2002 in at a commercial nursery in Beaconfield, Victoria, Australia. This mutation was isolated by vegetative propagation and grown to a mature plant for further observation of its characters over the next 9 years. It has been found to reproduce from generation to generation with budding onto Rosa multiflora rootstock in a stable manner.

The new variety ‘RANMD’ was first asexually propagated by graft budding in the state of Victoria, Australia in 2002. The distinctive characteristics of cultivar ‘RANMD’ have remained stable and true to type through successive cycles of asexual propagation. Cutting propagation and tissue culture of the variety may also be used to reproduce the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘RANMD’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘RANMD’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘RANMD’ as a new and distinct Rosa hybrid cultivar:

-   -   1. Large, fragrant yellow flowers.     -   2. Vigorous growth.     -   3. Bushy plant habit.     -   4. Continuous production of flowers through the blooming season.     -   5. Suitability for potted, garden and cut flower production.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

The parent variety ‘Valencia’ is characterized by its apricot colored double flowers. The new variety, while similar in many horticultural characteristics to ‘Valencia’ produces flowers with a sulfur yellow coloration. Additionally plants of ‘RANMD’ are taller, bushier and more vigorous than plants of ‘Valencia’.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘RANMD’ can also be compared to the Hybrid Tea Rose plant variety named ‘Holtermann's Gold’, unpatented. The plant growth habit of ‘RANMD’ is upright and bushy with a vigorous growth rate whereas the variety ‘Holtermann's Gold’ has a less bushy growth habit with lower vigor. The leaflets of ‘RANMD’ are broad whereas the leaflets of ‘Holtermann's Gold’ are narrow. The flowers of ‘RANMD’ are a light sulfur yellow color whereas ‘Holtermann's Gold’ has much deeper mustard yellow colored flowers. Additionally, flower of ‘RANMD’ have a strong fragrance whereas flowers of ‘Holtermann's Gold’ have a mild fragrance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color typical flower development of ‘RANMD’. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of Rosa hybrid known as ‘RANMD’ based upon observations of 18-month old plants grown in 200 mm nursery pots in full sun in open beds in Beaconfield, Victoria, Australia during 2011 to 2013. Plant observations and descriptions were taken in late summer (February) 2013. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Rosa hybrid ‘RANMD’. -   Age of the plant described: Approximately 1.5 years. -   Container size of the plant described: 20 cm nursery pots.

PROPAGATION

-   Typical method: Vegetative cuttings. -   Time to rooting: Approximately 20 days at 20° C. -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet: Approximately 55 days at 15° C. -   Root description: Fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright and bushy. -   Height: Approximately 125 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 100 cm. -   Rootstock: Budded onto Rosa multiflora. -   Growth rate: Rapid. -   Branching characteristics:     -   -   Length of primary branches.—Approximately 60 to 80 cm.         -   Diameter of branches.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Quantity of branches.—Average 10 to 12.         -   Branches-young wood.—Diameter: Approximately 0.5 to 1.0 cm.             Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146C. Texture: Smooth, with             thorns. Thorns: Approximately density/quantity of thorns:             Approximately 10 to 15 per 10 cm length of juvenile stem.             Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146D. Length: Average 0.4 cm.             Diameter: Average 0.5 cm.         -   Branches-old wood.—Diameter: Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture:             Smooth, with thorns. Thorns: Approximately density/quantity             of thorns: Approximately 5 to 10 per 10 cm length of mature             stem. Color: Near RHS Grayed-yellow 162B and 162C. Senescing             to brown 200D with tip and base brown 200A. Length: Average             0.9 cm. Diameter: Average 1.0 cm. Shape: Concave profile             with elliptic to obovate cross-sectional profile along basal             abscission zone.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, pinnate.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 20 per main branch, with 5 leaflets             per leaf. Occasionally 3 leaflets per leaf.         -   Average length.—Average 14 cm.         -   Average width.—Average 10 cm. -   Leaflets:     -   -   Terminal leaflet.—Average Length: Average 5.5 to 6.0 cm.             Average Width: Average 4.0 cm.         -   Lateral leaflet.—Average Length: Average 5.0 cm. Average             Width: Average 3.0 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Broad elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Finely serrate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous, leathery.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous, leathery.         -   Appearance of top surface.—Semi-glossy.         -   Appearance of top surface.—Matte.         -   Leaf internode length.—Average 2.0 to 5.0 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137B. Young             foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 147C. Mature             foliage upper side: Near RHS Green N137B. Mature foliage             under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 148C.         -   Venation.—Type: Reticulate. Venation color upper side: Near             RHS Green N137B. Venation color under side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 148C, mid rib Yellow-Green 152B and 152C, both             colors present.         -   Leaflet petiole.—Length: 0.25 cm. Width: 0.2 cm. Color: Near             RHS Yellow-Green 146D. Juvenile foliage leaflet petioles             tinged with Greyed-Red 178A or Greyed-Orange 174A. Texture:             Glabrous.         -   Rachis.—Length: 2 cm. Width: 0.2 cm. Color: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 146D. Texture: Glabrous.         -   Stipules.—Average Length: Average 1.8 to 2.2 cm. Average             Width: Average 0.4 to 0.5 cm. Shape: Longitudinally flanged.             Apex: Acute. Base: Clasping. Margin: Entire with stipitate             glands. Texture of top surface: Tomentose. Texture of bottom             surface: Tomentose. Color: Near Yellow-Green 146 D, all             surfaces.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Continuous flowering from late Spring to     mid Fall. -   Begins flowering after how many years/months: Approximately 4 months     from a graft budded plant. -   Inflorescence type and habit: Singly occurring full, double flowers,     with a flattened upper profile. -   Flower longevity on plant: Average 12 to 14 days. -   Vase life: 5 to 7 days. -   Fragrance: Strong, citrus and fruit scented, along with soft typical     tea rose scent. -   Quantity of flowers: Normally 1 per stem, with very few flowering     laterals. -   Inflorescence size:     -   -   Diameter.—Average 11 to 15 cm. Largest flowers up to 18 cm.         -   Depth.—Approximately 7 to 10 cm. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 8.0 to 9.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 mm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Near RHS yellow-Green 146D. -   Petals:     -   -   Petal arrangement.—Imbricate whorls.         -   Quantity of petals.—60 to 65.         -   Size.—Length: Approximately 5.0 to 5.5 cm. Width:             Approximately 4.0 to 4.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Texture.—Smooth, leathery all surfaces.         -   Color.—Petals: When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Yellow             12B. Lower surface: Near RHS Yellow 12B. Fully opened: Upper             surface: Near RHS Yellow 12B. Lower surface: Near RHS Yellow             12B. Color Changes when aging: Near RHS Yellow 10B, all             surfaces. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Length.—Approximately 4.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.5 to 1.8 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Red 178A as calyx breaks open. -   Sepals:     -   -   Quantity.—5.         -   Length.—Approximately 4.0 to 4.0 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 1.1 to 1.2 at base cm.         -   Shape.—Deltate.         -   Aspect.—Reflexed down with flower maturity.         -   Color.—Upper Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B, center             Yellow-Green 148C. Lower Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green             147B.         -   Texture.—Upper Surface: Tomentose. Lower Surface: Smooth. -   Petaloids: Not present.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—Approximately 130 to 150.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Filament color.—Near RHS Yellow-Orange 23D. -   Anthers:     -   -   Length.—2.5 mm.         -   Shape.—Narrow ovate.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Orange 23A.         -   Pollen.—Not observed. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—Approximately 95.         -   Length.—Approximately 2.2 mm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Yellow 160C.         -   Style.—Length: Approximately 0.7 mm. Color: Near RHS White             155D.         -   Stigma.—Length: Approximately 1.5 mm. Color: Near RHS Yellow             12C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Hips:     -   -   Length.—12 to 18 mm.         -   Width.—12 to 14 mm.         -   Shape.—Funnel shaped.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Not observed to change             color.         -   Seeds.—Seed production not observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Average resistance to Powdery mildew     (Sphaerotheca pannosa and blackspot (Diplocarpon rosae) under normal     growing conditions. Can be affected by Downy Mildew (Peronospora     sparsa) in conducive conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Typical tea rose temperature tolerance. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rosa hybrid plant named ‘RANMD’ as herein illustrated and described. 